David Jolly is the best choice in District 13 primary race

Republican voters in Pinellas County have two solid candidates to consider when they head to the polls Tuesday to decide the GOP primary for the District 13 U.S. House seat left vacant by the death of C.W. “Bill” Young.

David Jolly, a longtime aide and chief counsel to Young, has a command of the issues and an understanding of the inner-workings of Washington. Kathleen Peters, a former South Pasadena mayor and current state representative, is a capable and dogged legislator who learned politics from the ground up.

We think Jolly is better prepared to step into the morass that is Washington these days. His work with Young gives him a keen insight into the job that his competitors lack. He is a fiscal conservative who has a background in business. He thinks the Affordable Care Act needs to be overturned, and has a plan to solve the flood insurance crisis by creating a national disaster program that fairly spreads the risks.

Peters is a quality candidate, but lacks a firm grasp of the issues facing Congress. A third candidate on the ballot, Mark Bircher, is a retired Marine Reserve brigadier general and commercial airline pilot who advocates fiscal responsibility but is too rigid in some of his views.

Tuesday’s winner faces Democrat Alex Sink and Libertarian Lucas Overby in the March 11 general election.

In the Republican primary for the District 13 U.S. House seat, The Tampa Tribune recommends David Jolly.